Analysis: Walsall lightweight in heavy Bradford defeat

Back in 2016 the Saddlers were thumped 4-0 at Valley Parade – a result that effectively ended their hopes of winning automatic promotion.

Things did pick up last year when Erhun Oztumer scored in a 1-1 draw in West Yorkshire.

That point was enough to guarantee their place in League One this season. But in reality, George Dobson’s winner against Northampton had already done that.

It seemed impossible that – at Valley Parade – Walsall would endure another day as miserable as the one in 2016.

But they just about managed it here, with a bizarre second-half resulting in them being thrashed 4-0 by a side who began the day sitting bottom of the table.

Speaking afterwards, Dean Keates apologised to the 266 fans who travelled.

He had to because on the coldest of days they had braved the elements to back their side. It’s just a shame the players didn’t show the same commitment.

This was a clash where the weather was always going to have a big impact on the football being played.

It got under way with the temperature at zero degrees.

But with freezing rain (who knew there was such a thing) and strong winds, weather experts said the actual temperature for those in attendance was more like minus seven.

Initially, it was the Saddlers who coped with the conditions the better.

For long spells of the first-half they were the team playing on the front foot.

And while – given the conditions – they were guilty over-playing at times, they were the side creating chances. They should have opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Luke Leahy whipped in an unbelievable cross for Andy Cook.

It was a Premier League delivery. But just yards out Cook headed straight at former Walsall keeper Richard O’Donnell when he should have scored.

Nevertheless, the Saddlers continued to press with Kieron Morris tricking his way past a defender before seeing a fierce strike beaten away from 12-yards.

It had been all Walsall – yet against the run of play the Bantams grabbed the lead with a goal that so easily could have been prevented.

The lively Lewis O’Brien cut in from the left before going past Isaiah Osbourne far too easily and sending in a low cross.

And not one Saddlers player was then in a position to make a clearance with the ball rolling all the way through to ex-Blues right-back Paul Caddis who drilled a strike past Liam Roberts and into the net.

Despite the set-back, Walsall should have been on terms at half-time.

Another exquisite Leahy cross was begging to be knocked in by Cook.

But this time the forward powered a header against the roof of the bar.

Keates described Cook’s two first-half chances after the game as “bread and butter” for the striker.

And it’s important to stress that had he taken one or both of them, the result here could have been very different – with the 28-year-old apologising to his team mates post-match.

But it’s not Cook’s fault Walsall lost here – they lost due to a downright dreadful second half display.

From the moment the game got back under way, Keates’ men were off the pace.

Despite the conditions, they tried to play neat, intricate football but the weather wouldn’t allow it. And that ensured they constantly gave the ball away.

They fell further behind when David Ball’s strike deflected off Jon Guthrie before being turned into his own net by Russell Martin.

Then on the hour, Morris made absolutely no attempt to stop O’Brien sending in a cross from the left.

And yet again Walsall didn’t deal with the delivery with former Fleetwood man Ball firing in from 12-yards. Keates was so annoyed at Morris’ part in the goal that he immediately subbed the winger.

But his replacement Connor Ronan didn’t fare any better with the Wolves loanee backing out of a 50/50 challenge just moments later.

Whether it was the cold, the rain or the wind, it now seemed abundantly clear Walsall’s players didn’t want to be there.

And Bradford took full advantage with number 10s Jack Payne and Ball running riot in a 4-3-2-1 system.

Time and time again the duo bypassed Walsall’s midfield as if they weren’t there.

And while Cook, Leahy, Nicky Devlin and Liam Kinsella battled away – other players had given up.

It was therefore no surprise when Kelvin Mellor hit the byline and squared for Eoin Doyle to complete the scoring.

A livid Keates couldn’t hide his anger post-match.

As well as calling the display an embarrassment, he also warned a host of his under-performing stars they are now playing for their futures.

With January just around the corner, you get the impression the boss would make quite a number of changes if he could.

Most of those will have to wait to the summer with players still under contract.

But this display is one that Keates isn’t going to forget quickly.

After the euphoria of beating Coventry last Saturday and the FA Cup win over Sunderland on Tuesday, a trip to the team bottom of the table was a glorious chance to build some momentum.

Before kick-off, Walsall were just five points outside the play-offs. Now they are eight points adrift of the top six and 10 clear of the relegation zone.

This was a massive opportunity blown.

While Bradford have a squad that looks strong on paper, they showed here they are a very average side.

They didn’t win here because of their quality, they won because Walsall didn’t compete after the break.

As Keates said, that is unacceptable.